clunking noise when turning; sometimes when starting or backing up. Sounds appears to be coming from under the car near the rear seats(just in front of them). What say you guys? cv? tranny? pinion? driveshaft? How does one tell? Please be nice cause I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer. I can work on my car if I know and have a manual to follow. I do not know much about AWD. Thanks for the replies. Will check back later

 

I would pull the driveshaft out and see if that fixes it. The driveshafts are very common problems on these cars.

 

Is it possible just to replace the driveshaft support bearing to solve the problem... entire driveshafts are $$$$$$$$$$$. It looks like the other parts of shaft are fine.... no loose etc.

 

The front or rear joint is what usually goes bad.

 

Appreciate the help.........discovered it was the bushing and not the entire axle. A $40.00 part. Whew !!!

 

since we are talking about drive shaft I have a question too. My 2000 xc makes loud noise when shifts into last gear (not sure if it 4th or 5th, how many does it have?). It probably has to do more with the tranny but it appears like noise is coming from the back. It shifts fine into reverse and other gears, this loud thump noise only happens on hwy at around 55mph.

 

i"ve been told this is to do with the solenoid 'locking' the transmission. It can sometimes be accompanied with the lamda light being on noting an error in the trans. Mine started to do this before i found water had leaded into the transmission fluid, the slight rusting caused it to stick and release with quite a 'clunk' at the speed you indicated - volvos like many cars share the same radiator for both water and oil cooling. when the core become old the two can mix. water gets into the transmission and can destroy your gearbox. I would check the trans oil dip stick and make sure the oil is clear. if it looks like a pale mud colour then you have water in it and need to attend to asap.